Maestas takes judge position

Christopher Maestas, a retired educator, prevailed in a three-way race for the City of Tucumcari's municipal judge position in last Tuesday's local elections.

In a Tucumcari school board race, Robert Lucero prevailed over Cassie Huffman for District 3. Tom Humble, a longtime member of the Logan school board, was ousted by challenger Toby Jon Willis for Position 5.

Meanwhile, two races in the Village of House remain up in the air after vote totals there resulted in ties. The New Mexico Secretary of State will direct the Quay County Clerk's Office to perform a recount later this month. If the recounts don't resolve those races, a game of chance overseen by a judge at the courthouse will determine the winners.

Voters also easily approved two-mill school bond renewals for multiple area districts.

Voter turnout in the county was light, at 16%, which largely matches statewide turnout of 19%.

The Quay County Commission on Monday officially approved a canvass of the local elections.

Tucumcari races

Maestas, 77, easily prevailed in the Tucumcari municipal judge election with 61% of the vote. Maestas earned a four-year term.

He said he appreciated the support he received from voters.

"The people were very positive," Maestas said at the courthouse shortly after results were announced. "They wanted something different or something positive. They put a lot of trust in me. I'm going to have to do good."

Willis Hendrickson Jr., 80, a retiree and husband of previous municipal judge Noreen Hendrickson before she was promoted by the governor to magistrate judge this summer, finished a distant second with 24% of the vote.

Tommy Snapp, 50, a disabled former corrections officer, finished third with 15%.

For Tucumcari school board District 3, Lucero prevailed by almost a 3-to-1 margin over Huffman.

"I had a lot of support from the people," he said at the courthouse shortly after results were announced. "They believe in me; they know I'm going to do good to help the schools and bring kids back to Tucumcari."

Huffman stated on social media after her loss that night: "I'd like to congratulate my competitor Robert Lucero for the win. I appreciate everyone's support and encouragement."

Lucero replaces current school board President Leif Gray, who declined to run for re-election.

House ties

Two Village of House races featured ties, prompting a mandatory hand recount later this month and a possible game of chance presided over by a judge to determine the winners.

The top two vote-getters of six people who ran for councilor-at-large positions earn seats on the village board.

Matthew Wayne Cramblet was the overall winner, with 24 votes.

For the second seat, Anita Allen and Steven Foust tied at 17 votes each. The other candidates - incumbent Cathy Ray, Danny Dodd and Destiny Dodd - finished out of contention.

Also, in the village's Position 3 race, incumbent Ronald McGee and John Snipes finished with 19 votes apiece.

Quay County Clerk Ellen White said Monday during the county commission meeting that the Secretary of State's Office will call for a recount - first by machine, then by hand if still tied -- of those races by Nov. 22. She said Thursday there are no outstanding provisional or absentee ballots that would tip the results in that precinct.

If the recounts don't break those ties, "they will initiate a game of chance to determine who wins," she said.

White said that could be candidates randomly drawing from a deck of cards or names from a hat, rolling of dice or other methods. The said that process will be presided over by Circuit Judge Albert Mitchell or another judge he might appoint.

White said those races may not be resolved until early December.

No such uncertainty occurred in the House mayor's race. Joe Patton prevailed with 22 votes over opponent Eva Harding's 15.

The current mayor, Sherman Martin, declined to run.

The House school board will see two newcomers.

For the board's Position 1, challenger Randall Lee defeated incumbent Calvin Downey by more than a 2-to-1 margin.

For Position 2 on the board, Lori Foust easily prevailed over Stoney Shoemaker. The current holder of that seat, Rachelle Moon, declined to run again.

Logan races

Toby Jon Willis, owner of the Autumn Blessings assisted living facility in Logan, downed longtime incumbent Tom Humble in the Position 5 race for Logan school board.

Willis gained 58% percent of the vote, compared to Humble's 42%.

"I want to thank Tom Humble for his twelve years of service to Logan Schools," Willis stated in an email Thursday. "Thank you to our community for placing your trust in me. I look forward to getting up to speed and doing my part to uphold the strong traditions of Logan Schools. Go Horns!"

In Position 1 for the Village of Logan, Jai Courtney prevailed by more than a 2-to-1 margin over Brian Michael Cox.

The current officeholder, Benny Newton, declined to run for re-election.

Uncontested races

Below are the unopposed candidates in Quay County. All are for four-year teams unless otherwise noted:

• Christopher Wallace Arias, City of Tucumcari District 4 (incumbent)

• Michael W. Cherry, City of Tucumcari District 5

• David Shivers, Village of Logan Position 2 (incumbent)

• Janet Lynn Gladu, Village of San Jon trustee (write-in)

• William Scott Osborn, Logan Municipal Schools Position 4 (incumbent)

• Franklin Gibson, San Jon Municipal Schools Position 1 (incumbent)

• Cynthia Lee, San Jon Municipal Schools Position 3 (incumbent)

• Jerry Joe Lopez, Tucumcari Municipal Schools Position 2 (incumbent)

• James P. Streetman, Mesalands Community College District 1, six-year term (incumbent)

• Maria T. Stephenson, Mesalands Community College District 3, six-year term (incumbent)

• Thomas J. Sidwell, Mesalands Community College District 4 (incumbent)

• Robin Burns Alden, Mesalands Community College District 5 (write-in)

• Tonya Hodges, Canadian River Soil and Water Conservation District Position 3 (incumbent)

• David Franklin Garnett, Canadian River Soil and Water Conservation District Position 4 (incumbent)

• Lynn Runyan, Southwest Quay Soil and Water Conservation District Position 3 (incumbent)

• Colten Lane Grau, Grady Municipal Schools Position 4 (incumbent)

• Phillip Joe Borden, Grady Municipal Schools Position 5 (incumbent)

• Tyler W. Belcher, Melrose Municipal Schools Position 4 (incumbent)

• Larry D. Devaney, Melrose Municipal Schools Position 5 (incumbent)